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Selling Tips: Benefits of Living Light: Giving Up "Too Much Stuff"

Reblogger
Real Estate Agent with Front Gate Real Estate Broker 11085

If you are concerned about selling your home in its current condition or if you have too much "clutter", read the following tips and feel free to ask me any questions you may have. You can also read this tongue-in-cheek post "You Might Be a Pack Rat. . . and how to overcome it".

 

~Pat

Original content by MaryKay Shumway

HOME SELLING TIPS FROM DOOR COUNTY, WI

The Benefits of Living Light: Moving to a New Home

and just generally Giving Up Too Much Stuff

 

I recently had the pleasure of helping some new friends sell their home, and they are older and have accumulated many things.  When I commented on this, they initially laughed, and told me that when they moved from Illinois to Door County that they had downsized by half.

 

Fast-forward to their home sale, and six weeks of packing, and then a few weeks in multiple storage facilities, and then six weeks of unpacking--and you get the picture.  During my last telephone conversation with my client, she said "I'm pulling my hair out!  How in the world did we ever end up with so much 'stuff'???!!!!!"

 

Well, these are my words of wisdom for the week (or some life-long wisdom for everyone)--"STUFF" NEVER ENDS!  From my daughters packing up and leaving to and from school, to cluttered drawers, closets, cabinets, basemens, attics, garages, storage rooms....we all have "stuff".  And even though I thought I was living "light", a good look around my home this week told me that we have WAY too much stuff.

 

There are many benefits to living light, regardless of whether or not you are selling a home, but this has served as another GREAT lesson to remind my Sellers EVERY DAY that their one perfect Offer may come in tomorrow--and then what do we do with all of that "stuff" they've been sitting on for the past several years if their buyer wants to close in six weeks?

 

TOP REASONS TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD AND 

GET RID OF YOUR EXTRA "STUFF" NOW

 

1.  Your listed home WILL sell.  Maybe not today, maybe not next week, but it will.  And you need to be ready.  Too much stuff will drag you down and cause tension during your move.

 

2.  There are other people that NEED your "stuff".  Gently used coats, shoes, business attire and other clothing items can truly help families in need of warm winter clothing, or assisting people who are applying for jobs that may not have the appropriate clothing and need to start an inexpensive business wardrobe.  People also adore vintage clothing and accessories (I know I do)...and don't forget the upcoming Halloween.

 

3.  You can get MONEY for your "stuff".  Need some cold, hard cash?  Time to declutter!  Door County has some fantastic consignment stores (Second Hand Sue's, Julie's Upscale Resale), where you can get cold, hard cash for the things you are no longer using.  And many of my BUYER clients frequent these stores waiting for furnishings to come in from the homes that I am selling for their own new homes.  Also, everyone likes a fresh new look for their home--so long as you get rid of the "old stuff".  You can often find true treasures at our consignment stores and at Bargains Unlimited. If you're moving to Door County and need furnishings, ask me about any of these great stores.  And don't forget garage sales (Sister Bay has a Village-Wide Rummage Sale each spring) and estate sales.

 

4.  You can get tax deductions for your "stuff".  Check the IRS rules or with your accountant, and donate needed items to local charities.  We have a great store in Door County called Bargains Unlimited where the proceeds of sales of donated goods help support our local retirement home, and the items we donate are tax deductible as allowed by law.

 

5.  Your kids may not want your "stuff".  I still a lot of homes where the family has already "yellow tagged" the things they want from Mom and Dad.  That means you KNOW what your nearest and dearest want, and you can start to declutter of the things they do NOT want.

 

6.  Getting rid of the "stuff" will help your home sell faster.  I can make suggestions as a Broker selling your home, and one of the first things is going to be to get rid of whatever you can, and box up whatever you will need that is detracting from your currest space.

 

There will always be someone that can use your "stuff" somewhere.  We are a nation of over-consumers, and if you're planning a move, the best thing you can do NOW is to use these tips to lighten your load for the future.

 

And that being said, I also plan to practice what I preach!  I plan to work on a complete declutter over the next several months, and I'll bet I won't miss the old desk I never, ever sit at (but that holds a stack of paper a foot high, that can also be disposed of), the old cans of paint that have dried solid, and the million other things between the house and garage.  If I want to buy new clothes, I have to give away or donate what I'm NOT wearing (how many purses do I really need)?  When you're ready to list, call me and we'll talk about the journey to get rid of the things you really don't need.

 

The Benefits of Living Light: Moving to a New Home

and just generally Giving Up Too Much Stuff

(One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure)

 

HOME SELLING TIPS:  PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE

A nice example of a well-staged room with a lot of open space and

not too much "stuff" to detract from the space

Benefits of Living Light

All information is deemed reliable as of date of publication and is subject to change without notice.

 

 Thank you for reading!  MaryKay Shumway, ABR®, CRS®, Realtor® loves to laugh and enjoys working with people that love the Door Peninsula.  She is a full-time real estate Broker, mother of two and a senior Broker Association at the Kellstrom-Ray Agency, Inc. in beautiful Sister Bay, Wisconsin.  She represents listings throughout the Door County Peninsula and Buyers that want to purchase the perfect property to make Door County a part of their lives.  CONTACT MARYKAY ABOUT YOUR DOOR COUNTY PROPERTY QUESTIONS TODAY.

 

A consistent multi-million dollar producer for over a decade.  Representing both listing clients and buyer clients full time, MaryKay is also a mother of two and active in my community in the local school district, nonprofit groups and governmental affairs.  A member of the Door County Board of Realtors Honors Society from 2005-2015, the Door County Realtor of the Year 2008, a member of The Real Estate Group's Chairman's Circle in 2010-2015, and an member of the Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society for 2014 & 15.  She is president-elect of the Door County Board of Realtors in 2016 and a member of its Advocacy Committee.  

 

Contact MaryKay.  "As a multi-million dollar producer and senior associate at The Kellstrom-Ray Agency selling Door County real estate, I focus my balance on both featured listings and representing Buyer Clients looking for the perfect Door County Property.  I turn Door County vacations into Door County traditions by helping you own your own Door County real estate, and I represent exceptional properties in all price points on the Bay of Green Bay, Lake Michigan, and all inland lakes and properties in between. Call, text or e-mail me today."

Comments (3)

Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Hi Pat - those are all good reason to live light.  In may case I have my kids stuff stored that I don't want.

Oct 16, 2016 05:16 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Grant Schneider - I'm sure many homes across the nation have become unwanted storage units for grown children that have flown the coop. I know I took what I wanted and left the rest. Sounds like your kids did, too. Pick a Saturday and tell them to come and get it! Think that would work? Fortunately my son didn't leave me with any "collections" except his trading cards. I gave them back years ago!

Oct 16, 2016 05:42 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Pat yes indeed all good advice, but in all fairness I must admit I am a pack rat:)Endre

Oct 20, 2016 05:03 PM